Kerala bags India’s best green destination award

Popularly called as the God’s own country, South Indian state-Kerala, has bagged the ‘ Best Green Destination’ award at India’s Best Awards for 2013.

In world’s top tourism and travel destinations and services category too, Kerala picked up the “ Best Indian state award “ set up by the Travel and Leisure South Asia Magazine at a function held at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi on Monday. The magazine claims a readership of 60,000 in 12 countries across Southeast Asia, including Hong Kong and Macau.

In its third year, India’s Best Awards are given on the basis of an online readers’ poll conducted over five months. Eco-friendly tourism with participation of local communities is the principal objective of the State Government and all its stakeholders,

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Suman Billa, Secretary, Kerala Tourism, received the awards from Jorge Roza de Oliveira, Ambassador of Portugal to India. Earlier in January, Kerala Tourism had won the United Nations World Tourism Organization Ulysses Prize for sustainable tourism, the first such prize for an Indian tourism board.

Last month, it had bagged the Golden City Gate gold award of ITB-Berlin, a leading tourism and travel trade event, for its print media campaign on the backwaters.

Kerala had also won four top prizes at the National Tourism Awards for 2012-13.

“It is a significant award for Kerala because we are committed to preserving nature and respecting our cultural heritage and local communities,” said Kerala Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar.

“‘Responsible Tourism’ is the guiding philosophy and policy of Kerala Tourism,” said Kerala Tourism Secretary Suman Billa, who received the two awards.